Air-valve for oil-tanks.



J. M. MCDONALD- AIR VALVE FOR OIL TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1910.

980,810, Patented Jan.3, 1911.

- ZSHEETs-SHBETL '4 1i; W "ll 144272665 425 [72 Van for:

J. M. MCDONALD.

AIRVALVE FOR OIL TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED 111111: 27, 1910.

980,81 0. Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/zn 6.5.565 f 21 ran for:

W 627 M M 20216 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. McDONALD, 0F DUBUQUE, IOWA ASSIGNOB TO THE A. Y'. MCDONALD MANIF- FACTURI'FNG COMPANY, A COPARTNERSHIP OF IOWA..

AIR-VALVE FOR OIL-TANKS.

Specification .of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 27, 1910. Serial No. 569,078.

To all whom itma'y concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Valves for Oil-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

'In distributing oil, such as kerosene and gasolene, to the smaller centers of distribution, it is customary at each such center of distribution to locate one or more tanks of considerable capacity for each kind of oil. These tanks are generally in the form of steel cylinders of proper diameter and length, laid horizontally on secure foundations and generally in comparatively open places-that is, not adjacent to many buildings, and without any protection from heat and cold. A railroad siding is run up vnear to each set of tanks, so that tank cars may be run in overthe siding and the oil then discharged from the tank cars into the stationary tanks. I

In order to discharge the oil .from the tank cars into the tanks, it is customary to use either a hand or engine-driven pump,

which sucks the oil from the tank car. through suitable connections and discharges the same into the tanks, which generallystand at but small elevation above the ground. Otherpipes usually connect with the tanks, so that the oil may be drawn out into distributing wagons or vessels by gravity. Because of the exposed nature of these tanks and their accessories, a suitable air valve must be so designed and constructed as not to be easily injured or deranged by sleet, snow or 'ice,'which might form on the tank or other "parts, as such elements might freeze up the parts so that they would cease to operate in cold weather.

In like manner, a suitable air valve for this servlce should be supported above, the top of the tank a sufiicient distance so' that it may not be submerged or covered or its operation interfered withby snow and ice which might form on the top of the tank and then bank up around the valve.

Because of the highly inflammable nature of the liquids and gases in these tanks, they should at all times be completely closed when filled, so that stray sparks or lights could not ignite the gases or liquids. For the same reason, the air valve should be so constructed that a careless or indifierent em- 7 ployee may not go away and leave the valve open after gaging the tank or after openingiit for any other purpose.

As beforestated, the liquids are, as a rule, of a highly volatile naturethat is, they are continuously giving ofif gases of difierent kinds. The rate at which these gases are given off depends in large measure upon the freedom with which they may escape. In case the valve should be left open through inadvertence or carelessness, a considerable amount of the liquid might be evaporated and pass off in the form of a gas, which evaporation would not occur if the valve were closed. Of course, such evaporation entails a complete loss of the liquid thus evaporated, and in some cases tends to deteriorate the quality of the remaining liquid.

Objects of my invention are, to provide a sim 1e valve of cheap construction which will a low the air or gases to pass ofi from the upper portion of the tank promptly and easily during the filling process, to allow air to flow into the upper portion of the tank immediately when liquid is drawn off from it, so that the rate of flow of the stream drawn oils will not be impeded in any way; to provide a valve of such construction that at all times it will remain-tightly closed so as to prevent the ingress of sparks or flames to 1 the gases, and soas to impede the normal evaporation which tends to occur when the liquids are exposed to the air, and to relieve pressure and vacuum. occasioned by expansion and contraction of the liquid; to provide, however, a construction of valve such that a slight increase of gas pressure within the tankas, for example, would be occasioned by .a hot sun beating .down .-upon the .metal'will allow this excess gas pressure to pass off freely as rapidly as the gas is formed, so as to prevent any dangerzofithe tanks being subjected'to undue strains; to permit the ingress of air into the tank when the fluids contract by cooling; to provide a form of valve such that a careless orindif; ferent employee may not leave the valve open at any time; ttrprovide .a construction of valve which for gaging urposes will present a clear, ,unobstructe and direct openingiso that the rod may be easily inserted vertically clear to the bottom of the tank; to provide a construction of valve such that all moving parts .will be properly inclosed and sheltered, whereby sleet and rain cannot get to these parts so as to interfere with or prevent their operation; and to provide an arrangement of parts such that snow and ice forming on top of the tank cannot reach up to and freeze over the valve.

Other objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of the invention, which consists in the features of construction and; combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings-Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the valve as applied to the top of acylindrical tank, a portion of the connecting pipe being cut away and the cap being sectioned so as to completely show the clap valve, both the clap valve and cap being in extreme raised position such as they would occupy when gaging the tank; Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the valve, the cap being in closed position; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the valve showing the cap, clap valve and annular valve in closed position, and showlng by dotted lines the manner in which the clap valve may open to permit gases to pass out, and also showing in dotted lines the manner in which the annular valve may rise to permit air to pass in; and Fig. 4 shows a modification of a portion of the cap which permits the same to be locked closed.

In the embodiment of my invention, I provide a body portion, clap valve, annular valve and cap, such that when the cap is thrown down it will properly protect the moving parts of the valve, the clap valve being so arranged that it may open to permlt gases to pass out of the tank, and the annular valve being so arranged that it may permit gases to pass into the tank, the normal tendency of the annular valve and clap valve, when in working position, being to remain closed, and the cap being so hinged that it will always tend to close by reason of its own weight, and, in case the clap valve 1s also open for gaging purposes, to close it,

so that the tendency of these parts will be to fall into closed position after the gaging operation is complete.

Referring now to the figures, the body portion 40f the valve is shown as attached to the top ortion 5 of the tank by means of a pipe 6 of proper diameter and length and couplin 6, as will be hereinafter explained. Prefera ly the body portion 4 is provided with a threaded neck 7, which may be threaded into the upper end of coupling 6, and the body portion 4 is provided with a lurality of faces 8 which may be gripped y the wrench during the process of applying the valve to the pipe. The upper portion of the body is expanded out in the form of a ledge 9, which terminates in an enlarged neck 10. A cap 11 may be threaded onto the neck 10, said ca being provided with an outlet opening 12 111 its central per-- valve is preferably that the gases which 11. The ledge is provided in its upper face with an annular depression 17, connecting the upper ends of all of the holes or slots 16. The inner and outer edges 18 and 19 of the upper face of the'ledge 9 are preferably ground to present accurate, smooth plane surfaces, so that an annular valve 20, likewise provided with a ground lower surface, may accurately seat on the surfaces 18 and 19 so as to provide a tight joint when seated, thus preventing gases from passing up through the hole 21 of the body portion into the space 13 and out through the holes 16. v

The'cap 11 is provided with an annular ridge 22 surrounding the hole 12, the upper surface of said ridge being also accurately ground. The clap valve 14 is preferably cut away in its central portion 23, and its lower projecting annular edge 24 is ground to seat accurately on the surface of the ridge 22, so that when the clap valve is in closed position there will be a tight connection'between it and the ridge 22 into the opening 21 of the body portion. This clap wedge-shaped, being thicker near its rear end 25 than its front end 26, and the'rear end terminates in the form of an ear 27. The cap isprovided with two lugs 28, spaced apartto receive the car 27 loosely, and said ear is pivoted to the lugs 28 by means of a set screw 29. The cap 11 is preferably threaded on the neck 10 and is provided on its rear edge with a pair of ears 30 and 31, symmetrically placed with respect to the lugs 28. The cap 15 is then hinged to the ears 30 and 31 by means of a lock bolt 32. The front of the cap 11 is provided with a lug 33' adapted to support position.

Considering now the cap 15, this is of peculiar shape. It is preferably in the form of a fiat central portion'34 provided around its periphery with an apron 35, which apron may hang down low enough to thoroughly protect the clap valve 14 and ridge 22, but is spaced away from the edge of the cap 11 sufficiently to provide spaces 36 and 37, so pass up from the opening 21 and through the partly open clap a ve 14 may escape unobstructed through the spaces 36 and 37. The rear portion of the cap 15 is, however, provided with an ex the front end of the cap 15 when closed I tension apron 3 8, which hangs down low enough to' thoroughly inclose the lugs, 30 and 31 and bolt 32, so that the elements may not get in at these points and interfere with the free swinging of the cap 15. The sides 39 and 40: of the extension 38 lie parallel to,

"the lugs.30- and 31, and the bolt 32 passes through-these sides and the lugs and is locked by means of a nut 41. However, in" order 'to lock the bolt 32 more securely its end 42"may be threaded through theside 39 Fig. 1, the edge 43 will come into contact with the lugs 30 and 31in a manner to hold the cap 15- so that it will naturally fall closed into the position of'Fig. 3that is,

the cap may never be opened sufficiently to naturally stay (ripen when the valve is set in 33, insures that the cap 15 will properly its normal working posit-ion on a tank. The parts should further be so proportioned thatthe closing tendency of. the cap 15 will be sufficient to also close the clap valve 14 from its position of Fig. 1. It is then evident that the valve will automatically close regardless of the negligence or carelessness of an employee; The lower edge of the front part of the apron 35 may be provided with a notch 44, which will register with the lug 33 to properly center the cap 15 as it falls.

.By hinging. the clap valve 14 loosely to the lugs 28 and the cap 15 loosely to the lugs 30 and 31, it is not necessary to use great care in forming these joints so that the cap 15 will automatically close and carry with it the clap valve in the above described manner. At the same time, the provision of a notch 44, registering loosely with the lug center as itfalls, and the provision of considerable bearing surface for the clap valve 14 against the ridge 22 insures that the opening 21 will always be closed at this point in a tight manner. It is possible to proportion the parts in suchmanner that when the cap 15 is open in the position of Fig. 1, so that it will automatically fall closed, there will still be a clear opening down through the hole 21 and pipe 6 to the bottom of the-tank, so that the gaging. operation may be easily carried on. v

In operation, when the pressure of the gas within the tank falls a slight amount, as, it will do when the process of drawing off the oil commences, atmospheric pressure will be exerted upward through the holes or slots 16 against the lower face of the annular valve 20. The latter will then be raised a sufficient amount to allow thisair to flow into the opening 21 and thence into the body of the tank, at the same time the clap valve will remain closed. As soon as the operation of drawingofl' oil ceases, the an nular valve 20 will fall back into closed po-'.

sition. When it is desired to fill the tank, the pressure therein will rise a slight amount, and then the clap valve 14 will open sufiicientlyto allow the gases to pass out and down through the spaces 36 and 37 to atmosphere. It is evident that 1 the surface upon which incoming atmosphere will press to open the diaphragm 20 will be equal to the area of the strip of said annular valve equal in width to the groove 1'1, and of a length equal to the circumference of said groove. By providing a sufiicient surface for the atmosphere to press against, and byv making the annular valve 20 sufliciently light, an extremely small reduction of gas pressure within the space 21- will be suiiicient to open said valve and allow air to pass in. In like manner, by providing a clap valve of suflicient size so as to. present a comparatively large area an extremely small increase of gas pressure within the tank will be sufficient to open'the clap valve and allow said gas to pass 'ofi'- -Furthermore, the use of a large clap valve will greatly facilitate the gaging process.

It is evident that the arrangement of, parts in this valveis such as to secure the maximum amount of opening bothfor inlet or egress of fluids within the minimum space. This is true largely because the valve is of circular arrangement, one of the openings being virtually surrounded by the other. Furthermore, the arrangement is one in which the cap 15 may completely and properly protect the vulnerable parts with the greatest ease and thoroughness. The elements cannot get'to the working parts by reason of the manner in which they are all inclosedby the apron 35, and by reason of the manner in which the extension .7 38 covers the hinge at'this point.

Although I have shown and described a construction making use of a circular "clap valve, and in which the inlet openings are placed circularly around the main opening 21 of the body portion,.still I cover in my invention any suitable construction making use of the clap valve for allowing fluids to pass out of the tank and some form of annular or equivalent valve for allowing-fluids to pass into the tank. In the modification shown in Fig. 4, a lug 45 is formed on the cap- 15 and adapted'to register with a similar lug on the cap-11. These lugs may be perforated so that the cap "15 can be locked closed, as by means of the cap 15 is raised during the gaging procsaid cap being hinged to a fixed portion of the valve in a manner whereby when in completely open position it will normally tend to fall closed and the clap valve being so supported with respect to said cap that the cap will throw the clap valve into closed position when the cap falls into closed position, substantially as described.

In a gas valve of the type described, a body portion having therein inlet and out-. let openings, a closure for the inlet openings in the form of an annular valve, a closure for the outlet openings in the form of a clap valve, and a cap normally covering the upper portion of the device and hinged to a fixed portion thereof in a manner whereby said cap normally tends to fall into the closed position, and the clap valve being hinged to a fixed portion of the device in a manner whereby the cap will throwthe clap valve into closed position when the capls closed, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a body portion having therein an outlet opening, a clap valve for said opening, and a cap normally covering and inclosing the upper portion of the device, said. cap being hinged to a fixed portion of the device in a manner whereby it will normally tend to fall into closed position and the clap valve being hinged in a manner whereby the cap will normally close the clap valve when the cap falls into closed position, substantially as described. 1

4. In a device of the class described, a body portion having therein inlet andoutlet openings and closures for. said openings, and a hinged cap normally covering and inclosingthe upper portion of the device, and provided with an apron of a formation to extend down around the upper portion of the device and inclose the same when the cap is in the closed position, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, a body portion having therein a plurality of holes extending from the exterior to the ing and having in its upper portion a substantially vertically formed hole to form an outlet openin a closure for the inlet openings and a c osure for the outlet opening, and a .cap normally covering and inclosing the upper portion of the device, said cap being provided around its periphery w th a downwardly extending apron and being hinged to a fixed portion of the device in a manner whereby the cap normally tends to fall into the closed.position,the apron being formed on the cap in a manner to extend down below the closure for the outlet opening when the cap is in closed osition and being formed in a manner to inc ose the hinge whereby it is hinged to the fixed portion, whereby when the cap is in closed position the elements may not gain access to the clap valve or hinge, substantially as described 6. In a device of the class described, a body portion having therein inlet andoutlet openings, a closure for the inlet opening and a closure for the outlet opening,

and a cap normally covering and inclosing the upper portion of the device, said cap being hinged to a stationary portion of the device and being provided around its periphery with a downwardly extending apron of a form to normally inclose the upper po'rtion of the device whereby when the cap is in closed position the apron extends down past the closure of the outlet opening, and

the hinge, substantially as described.

In a device of the class described, a

body portion having'therein a vertically extending hole in the form of an outlet opening and a plurality of substantiall vertically extendin holes surrounding t e outlet openingan forming an inlet opening, a closure for the inlet openings in the form of an annular valve and a closure'for the outlet opening in the form of a-clap valve,

and a cap for the device normally covering and inclosing the upper portion of the device, the holes comprising-the inlet opening being spaced around the outlet opening in a substantially circular manner whereby the holes for said inlet and outlet openin s and the closures therefor may be compact y and efficiently placed, substantially as described.

J OHN M. MCDONALD.

Witnesses:

EPHRAIM BANNING,

THOMAS A. BANNIN Jr. 

